Clark County’s expected jobs fell short in April

April was not the best month for Clark County’s job market. Due to seasonal trends, 700 net new jobs were expected, but only 200 jobs were tallied. The shortfall was largely in retail trade, according to Scott Bailey, Employment Security’s regional economist for Southwest Washington.

In total, Clark County had 176,900 jobs in April, with a 4.3 percent unemployment rate. There are an estimated 10,900 unemployed residents in the county, but that’s 21 percent fewer than a year ago, when there were an estimated 13,800.

Leisure and hospitality added 600 jobs, evenly split between arts, entertainment and recreation, and accommodation and food services, according to Bailey.

Social assistance declined by 200 jobs, and there were small employment losses in a handful of other industries.

Bailey also said the revised employment numbers in the county showed that job recovery was stronger than previously reported. The county has added 9,100 jobs this year, a 5.4 percent increase.

Clark County’s 4 percent net gain of jobs since the pandemic began is outpacing the nation (minus 0.8 percent), the state (0 percent), Oregon (minus 1.7 percent), Seattle metro (minus 1.4 percent) and the Portland metro area (minus 1.6 percent), according to Bailey.